Rodeo Round Up

Rodeo – 2010 from Connie: The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is over and once again CHH members stepped up and demonstrated weaving, spinning, and other fiber crafts every day for three weeks. Altogether 385 hours of volunteer time were given. Did you know that the estimated dollar value of volunteer time per hour, as determined by The Independent Sector, is $20.25? So if we add it up, collectively we donated $7796.25 worth of time to help fund scholarships and other educational entities that the rodeo sponsors.

Our top volunteer in terms of time was Alecia Willis, followed by Rosemary Malbin and Cheryl Watkins. We had 36 people help this year, and help they did. We wove over 8 yards of fabric on the wolf pup—a great looking monksbelt, and almost completed a beautiful tapestry on the high back loom. Miles of yarn were spun, and who knows how many how many people stopped by to watch, ask questions, and comment on the work we were doing. Many said they come year after year just to see us. Our youngest volunteer, 16 year old Lucia Sutter, was one who had watched us demonstrate from the other side of the fence for quite a few years herself. In fact, while demonstrating spinning this year, she was showing people something she’d learned mostly by watching us at the rodeo.

We missed Tilly this year, as she wasn’t able to come, but numerous people asked after her and were pleased to know that she’s still spinning and weaving. To our amusement there was a giant sow named Tilly who had 13 piglets during the show.

Members appeared on Channel 13, and we were featured in a piece on KUHF, too. Next year, if and when she introduces herself, a certain person named Rosemary will introduce herself as a member of CHH, and not as a member of the Sheep and Goat Committee. To many of those watching the Channel 13 piece, it might have appeared that the Sheep and Goat Committee was running the demonstration and not CHH, but since Rosemary was second in terms of volunteer hours we’ll just let it go.

This year was a test for the guild. It had been decided that if we found ourselves without an adequate volunteer base, we would not be doing this again in 2011. Our sincere thanks to everyone who stepped up and not only helped this year, but readily convinced us that yes, we should continue to sponsor this demonstration. For the first time that we can remember, we had at least one volunteer signed up for every day before the rodeo even started, and that really made a difference right from the start. Next year, we’re even planning to go back to two Wolf Pup looms again, so we’ll have all the more warp to weave.

So it’s EEHAW and farewell for another year. Thanks ya’ll!

Webweaver’s note: Just want to acknowledge the great job that Connie and Blaine do every year to make the whole Livestock Show Demonstration work for CHH! So here is a Blue Ribbon for them!